2010 OH Senate Debates: on Corporations


Lee Fisher: Experienced negotiating with companies to stay in Ohio

The two tussled over who is in better touch with Ohio businesses. Portman, as he frequently does on the campaign trail, touted the more than 70 company tours and plant visits he's made to illustrate that he is attentive to the needs of businesses. And he suggested Fisher let companies [leave Ohio] by not staying in touch with them.

He cited as an example the air freight company DHL which devastated Wilmington when it began shuttering operations in 2008. DHL shocked city and state officials when it announced plans in 2008 to discontinue ground delivery services, which led to the end of operations in Wilmington and the loss of nearly 8,000 jobs.

Fisher responded to Portman's criticism about company visits that he doesn't need to tour factories because he's has on-the-ground experience negotiating deals and saving companies.

Portman shot back: "Maybe you ought to visit some more of those factories because that's not what I'm hearing."

Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 8, 2010

Rob Portman: More than 70 company tours & plant visits, to stay in touch

The two tussled over who is in better touch with Ohio businesses. Portman, as he frequently does on the campaign trail, touted the more than 70 company tours and plant visits he's made to illustrate that he is attentive to the needs of businesses. And he suggested Fisher let companies [leave Ohio] by not staying in touch with them.

He cited as an example the air freight company DHL which devastated Wilmington when it began shuttering operations in 2008. DHL shocked city and state officials when it announced plans in 2008 to discontinue ground delivery services, which led to the end of operations in Wilmington and the loss of nearly 8,000 jobs.

Fisher responded to Portman's criticism about company visits that he doesn't need to tour factories because he's has on-the-ground experience negotiating deals and saving companies.

Portman shot back: "Maybe you ought to visit some more of those factories because that's not what I'm hearing."

Source: Cleveland Plain-Dealer coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 8, 2010

Rob Portman: More favorable policy: encourage business development

Fisher sought to tie his opponent to the Bush administration, reminding viewers of Portman's service as budget director and US trade representative. Under Portman's watch, Fisher said, the federal deficit ballooned and Ohio lost 100,000 jobs to China. " It's time that Congressman Portman took responsibility for his role in helping cause this recession," Fisher said. Portman dismissed the jab as a partisan attack and urged Fisher to answer for the 400,000 Ohio jobs that have disappeared over the past 4 years during Fisher's tenure as state development director.

Fisher called for more stringent trade and tax policies to discourage companies from moving overseas. Portman's economic solutions included more favorable tax and regulatory policies to encourage business development, more effective workforce training programs, and undefined spending cuts to lower the deficit. He said his health-care plan would include provisions to restrict malpractice lawsuits, a GOP priority left out of the new law.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 Ohio Senate debate Oct 5, 2010

  • The above quotations are from 2010 Ohio Senate Debates.
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  • Click here for more quotes by Rob Portman on Corporations.
  • Click here for more quotes by Lee Fisher on Corporations.
Candidates and political leaders on Corporations:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Sc